Mollie333 Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Our girls was free ranging today, around 1:30pm, and i went out and saw cheryl limping towards me, i counted 6 out of 7 chickens, quickly realized that cheryl wasn't herself, i went up to her and she had her mouth wide open. i couldn't see anything, accept loss of her back feathers, and front feathers.. then she shook her feathers and there it was: a huge open wound, bite wounds. then the neighbour, who is 97 years old, pointed out that there is 8 fox holes in the bottom of her garden, we checked in the holes for the chicken, nothing. we found a fresh hole with 'dragging' lines of where the fox has tried to drag Cheryl into the hole.. we took her to the vets and she gave us some anti biotics and pain killers, for £70. the girls are back free ranging, with me sat here with the laptop.. But the worst news is our Buff pekin bantam hen has been snatched by the fox, and we can't find her anywere, we have guess that she is now dead.. Rest in peace Dear, you will be missed. : ( Edit: this was in the middle of the day people.. always supervise your chickens.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I am sorry please be aware that the fox will return, so best up your security, they are even sometimes bold enough to come into the garden with you present Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I'm so sorry to hear that, how awful . I hope Cheryl recovers OK . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Thankyou. I am making the garden secure.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grracee Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 So sorry for you & your chickens, hope Cheryl gets better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Very sorry to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Gosh how scary, you never know your little one could be hiding somewhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 So sorry that has happened. Hope Cheryl makes a speedy recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 So sorry - you may have read my posts - one of myinesurvived a fox attack on Sunday and is still going strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Thanks everyone.. Its a shame about the chickens. And cheryl.. I have 6 chickens and a turkey now.. the remaining 4 of my pekins seem like there shouting for staceydear, and its really upsetting what shall i do.. the girls are missing the head of the heard. Staceydear shall i get a new pekin pullet to ive with the older pekins? or just let them live by there self? i'm not very experianced in introducing chickens, but i've red all about it.. will my original girls bully a new chicken? i'm very upset now.. my dad's friend suggested pouring peteral down the fox holes.. and setting fire.. we did this, but a huge tree went up, the fire burgade came, LOL! do you think after we've destroyed the foxes home they will come back for more to eat, like, today? ohh what shal i do , thats what i thought at first, because there is no sign of her, or feathers.. But i have checked with my neighbours, all over our garden, and the neighbours gardens, al on the street, no feathers, no dear unless the fox took her and ran away to feed her cubs, i dont know where she is scarlettohara, aww, wel i really hope Cheryl is going to be okay, and my little dear, well i don't know chicken bark, thankyou.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 So sorry to hear this. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I am so sorry to hear about the fox attack, and the loss of your little girly. I lost my lovely apricot hen to a fox just before christmas...that was in the middle of the day too.... Until it happens to you...you just don't think it will ever happen to you if you see what I mean. Now I only let them FR when I am there to supervise...and I have a supersoaker at the ready should a fox be brave enough to enter the garden whilst I am there!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 sadietoo , i really understand now. When i got the chooks, i ddin't realize that the fox comes out in the day, but more and more people feed them nowadays.. it just promps them into the garden, Your right, im sat out in the garden watching the girls free ranging, a book next too me, my ipod and the computer. should i get a new pekin for my 4 pekin girls.. they look lost, Dear was the top of the pecking order.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Sorry to hear about your chook. I leave both my dogs out when mine are free ranging. It would need to be a very brave fox to take on my female Border Collie she hates 'em!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenna_family Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I am so sorry to hear about your chickens, I hope cheryl is on her way to a speedy recovery, bless her. I do hope you find dear, she could be hiding bless, lets hope so. Thinking of you at this terrible time. Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Hi everyone. After a tough decision we have decided to draw tthe line. It's dark and dear has not come home. It's clear to say that dear won't be joining the others. Rest in peace now little bird. She was my first chook and I will miss her millions =( x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 So sorry to hear of this, but relieved that five out of seven escaped, and here's hoping Cheryl will make a good recovery. I wouldn't replace Stacey (not that you ever could replace her, of course) but you'll find the other hens will adapt and they'll choose a new 'top hen' in their own time. She was probably protecting her 'flock' and that's why she was taken. There's nothing you can do to keep foxes out of your garden - the only safe options are a walk-in run, or supervised free-ranging I'm afraid. I hope Cheryl is doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Thankyou everyone.. I was thinking about getting another Pekin.. but you saying dont? why's this? i would like to get a new pullet to represent Staceydear, and hope that she is safe up there.. Dont you reccomend it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I'm sorry Hope Cheryl is ok I wouldn't get another pekin .. not yet anyway. The rest will need to estabish a new pecking order first, and Cheryl needs to recover. The new one wouldn't come in as the top hen, so the rest of the flock would just become even more lost + confused. Its best to get 2, too - and introduce them slowly to the others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Mollie, you have had a rotten week I'd suggest that you let your flock settle & recover from the shock before you even consider getting any more chooks.........and if you do decided to get more, as Lewis has said, don't get a single as it would be a very difficult introduction for the little girl coming in to an established flock on her own.......the resident hens would gang up on her & could cause a vast amount of damage, it's much better to add at least two, and take the intros slowly How is Cheryl Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 I'm sorry to hear your bad news I hope Cheryl is feeling better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 So sorry to hear - it's a horrible thing and a shock to all involved. Hope Cheryl is soon back to normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 What a horrible thing to happen. So sorry ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted April 10, 2010 Author Share Posted April 10, 2010 Hi everyone. Thanks for the advice, i think i'm getting 2 pullets, but not yet, and i will introduce them slowly as everyones said. i might be getting them maybe next month, i want the other girls to relax first, and cheryl to recover. i went out to see cheryl this morning and there was blood all over the place.. Poor girly.. and a turkey in the nesting box! shame we cant give this one away as she is on medicans and is not for human consumption.. shame. the other girls seem better today, eating everything i give them, although staceydear was greedy, and ate a good quater of the food, so not all of it has gone it was really hard last night.. she was my best girl, my first ever chicken, i brought her from a chick, was looky on the sex of the chick, as i thought.. cockerall?! when she was younger. I will miss her.. its a shame she didnt get to fulfill her life, she was new to laying, and recently went broody. Ahhh i will miss that cheeky way she used to jump up to get the mealworms rip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
